Reality - not so obvious ?

It is often seen that after some incident, the outcome is interpreted too quickly based on popular opinions, emotions or propaganda. Reality surfaces much later, and may be quite different to what was perceived. We have two perfect example of this in context of international politics or better, Middle Eastern politics.

In the latest democratically held election in Palestine, the militant outfit 'Hamas' emerged victorious over the incumbent Fatah party. The militant outfit was/is indeed popular with the local population as demonstrated in the election result. International opinion about denouncing the militant outfit 'Hamas' was perceived in context of Israel’s wish (as with anything in Middle East). Finally Hamas did make the government even though it maintained its stand of not recognizing Israel. I had done an earlier post here.

The reality 10 month later is quite different. Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of the Fatah party, unilaterally offered to step down. He further asked for a unity government to be formed with the opposition Fatah party. This he said would stop alienation of Palestine from the international community, and international aid will flow back to Palestine.

The second and more obvious example comes from neighboring Lebanon. It was the end of armed conflict between terrorists of Hezbollah and Israel. The war started due to Hezbollah, and ended in a ceasefire, removal of Hezbollah terrorists from the northern border of Israel. Hezbollah chief Nasrallah gained immediate popularity in Lebanon and other Islamic countries as some Islamic hero, who stood up against Israel. He was touted as saviour of Islam in the ongoing war against terror, wrongfully dubbed as war against 'Islam' by many.

Now see what ‘Hero’ Nasrallah is doing to Lebanon. He has asked the government, led by Fouad Seniora to step down. He also got 6 Shia ministers to resign from the government, which has not been accepted by Prime Minister Seniora. Nasrallah has threatened to start mass street protest to bring down the government. Nasrallah is using the same purported victory over Israel to take Lebanon down to a civil war. Who is going to be hurt by this? Israel or Lebanon? Is this the victory Lebanese people were celebrating. As I write this post, Lebanon has further plunged into crisis after another anti Syrian politician, industry minister Pierre Gemayel has been assassinated in Beirut and Nasrallah has just now threatened about starting civil war. Had he been stopped or removed during the war with Israel, it is for Lebanese people to see who would have benefited more? The reality is and will always be the same that terrorists are loyal to none save for their selfish cause, and the only way to deal with them is to eliminate them.

Indian tidbits

I was meaning to write this post, since a month ago. The irony is that this post, in which I wanted to capture my first impression of India after leaving Finland, is being written while I am in Finland. Anyway, I guess, better late than never!

This was the first time I was flying with Lufthansa and despite all the media hype, I didn’t find the inflight experience even close to that of Air France. Oh, the only good thing, they don’t lose your luggage. After somewhat 9 hours of flying, in which I had an Irish lady in her late forties as my neighbour- flying from Dublin, conversation with her was the only best part. Though she was traveling with her two teenage daughters, on her first trip to India, she didn’t get seats alongwith her daughters and ended up seating next to me. Later I realized how emotional this trip is for her, when she said, she is going to visit the grave of her late aunt, who was buried somewhere near Nanital in 1930, and she was named after her that aunt. She had been planning to take this trip for the last ten years and finally managed it. I was happy to answer all her questions about India and she was even more happy and excited about the trip. Too bad, I wasn’t able to tell her a place where she can go and experience Diwali, I just said expect it to be our Christmas.

The flight landed at time at Delhi’s international airport at time. The first happiest moment for me whenever I come back to India, is when I see the sign that says “Only Indian passport holders” That alone makes up for the surly man at the immigration counter or the clumsy lady who takes forever to feed the passport number. Next when I came out, the thing which stood out was lot of visible police personnel at the airport. They were on their regular security duty at the airports. “Time for the reverse cultural shock to begin”, I thought.

Delhi was hot like peak summer of June and not only to me but to other Delhi residents as well. I had heard lot about Delhi Metro and a few days later, I did make the first trip on it. Well it was as good as it was said and seemed totally out of place in Delhi. Only when the train stops and there is a clash between those who are deboarding and those who want to come in, you seem to get the familiar sight of Delhi. The speed of train, I thought, could still be increased a bit to make it more effective. In one of the station, where I had to change lines, I had a brush with the security paranoia during Indian festival season. I had only one minute to make the connection, so as it I usual, I made a dash and within seconds I was surrounded by three police person, who could not make any reason of my trying to dash. It seems no one ever runs in Delhi’s metro stations. Well, I still managed to get that train as those people quickly realized why I was running? I wonder with such highly effective (?) security, why our cities are bombed by terrorist at will?

After some twenty days in hot Delhi, it was my time to go to Bangalore. The weather when I landed at Bangalore brought smile at my face. As soon as I reached airport, the smile turned to frown when it started raining. As I was passing by airport road, I was getting reminded of the old places. Nothing has changed in that road in last two years. I saw my old house, where I had lived for one year. It was the same, except it has got a green canopy at the terrace. The restaurants where I used to eat, the udupis, neighbourhood ATM and the old office building where I used to work were all same. The city buses had changed their colour from deep blue to sky blue. I had very little time to dump by bags and reach office. Thanks to Mowgli, I had his motorcycle and also the description of the location of new office, which he had told me over phone. Though he has not been in Bangalore for quite some time, his location description was still valid. While I was passing the outer ring road, I had to stop 4 times to ask someone if that is indeed outer ring road. That road, which two years ago passed through deserted places had huge gleaming glass buildings on both sides of it. On them the name plates were of the biggest names of the global corporate world. But since it was indeed the outer ring road, I did reach my office. The description was perfect, thanks Mowgli.

On reaching the new office building, I went to the reception desk for getting a temporary access card, as I was sure my old one won’t work. The receptionist asked “new joinee”? After this I had to show her my old ID, which she could not recognize. I just said that once upon a time we had ID cards like this. Just two years had changed everything here. Inside the building, I got a temporary place to work and when I read my mails, I knew that I might have to come back to Finland.

Two days later on my first weekend, I wanted to catch up with everything I had missed out in Bangalore. I went to see the new malls which have come up in Bangalore, Forum, Garuda and their multiplexes. I was amazed at the height of economic activity in Bangalore. The number of jobs these places were creating, right from the security guards, parking attendants to those handling the inventory and ringing up the purchase. Atleast I could see the economic success trickling to all those who wanted to get a share of it. Economics indeed is the blue print of development.

I wanted to see more of these hot beds of economic activity, there were many other things left to explore in Bangalore, including getting to watch a movie in those multiplexes. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any more weekends in Bangalore but when I am going back there very soon, I have a list of things to do.

Time to travel again

It is as surprising to me as to anyone. Hardly I been in Bangalore for a week or got time to unpack my bags, and I have to travel again. The most surprising bit is that I am travelling to Finland, again. Some urgent assignment came up, which was put on me and I had to take it.

It won't be a long trip this time, and I would be based out of Helsinki this time. Things would have been different if I was knowing that I would be coming again. My flight is tonight so I have got only today to prepare for the travel. This time international flights have started to depart right from Bangalore, so I save one leg of flight. My flight will be Air France's Bangalore - Paris- Helsinki. After my last journey with Lufthansa, I didn't wish to fly with them again.

I was planning couple of posts on my experiences of last one month in India but never got around to actually write it. I guess, I would post them once I get settled(?) again. Life never goes as per our plan. See you all very soon !